Cameraphones become a problem

By 03.26.2003 :: 11:18AM EDT03.26.2003

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cameraphones, which are becomingly increasingly popular (especially in japan), are becoming a bit of a legal issue. there is a rise in cameraphone-related crime in japan, from people taking up-skirt pictures to people taking pictures in venues that don't allow photography. it's hard to tell someone he or she cannot bring a mobile phone into a venue, though it wouldn't bother me if i no longer heard mobile phones ringing at concerts, movies, etc. there have been reports that pictures of defendants were taken in a court room, for example. the authorities are saying that once the pictures are out there in cyberspace there's nothing that can be done. this is a huge privacy issue, and japan has not previously been very privacy-concerned, so there is not much legislation in place to protect people. more and more businesses in japan are going to begin banning mobile phones, as some health clubs and such are already doing. the problem is not specifically with mobile phones, since digital cameras themselves are getting smaller and smaller, but cameraphones are becoming “the norm” in japan. the cameraphone manufacturers are openly encouraging their customers to exercise discretion in using the cameras, and are posting warnings at stores and online telling customers not to use the cameras improperly. manufacturers explain, too, that they foresaw there being issues, and made sure that the cameras remained conspicuous. j-phone spokesman naoyuki nakagaki says all phones equipped with cameras will make a specific sound when they take a picture, and that there is no way to disable this sound–even when the phone is in silent mode the camera will make the sound. read more at the japan times, and thanks to bargainpda for the link. i was just discussing with someone that i expected this sort of stuff to start happening soon. apparently i'm a little behind, as this has been an issue for a while now overseas. cameras are going to get small enough very soon–or they may already be small enough–that it is going to be impossible to ensure that they aren't getting into places where photographs should not be taken. i've always thought it was stupid to disallow my taking a photo at a concert anyway. i don't think there's going to be a good way to stop this, though, beyond bad lighting.joel's note: sprint pcs wants every phone to be a cameraphone, so the problem is about to hit the u.s. full force.

user comments 28 comment(s)

no problem!(11:28am est wed mar 26 2003)there is no law against taking a picture at a “no camera” venue. i welcome these phones for this!

in a court room? again, ppl are allowed in, the public is allowed in, you are allowed to render images by hand, so why not by camera?

as to the toecam, those may be illegal in japan and other more enlightened parts of the world, but the us courts have deemed (in quite lawyerly fashion, like clinton's insistance that oral sex isn't sex) that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy up your skirt! so wear undies if you want to keep your privates private and your genarals general.

personay i'd like to see toecams outlawed. but i don't see what toecams have to do with phones.

i think the authorities are afraid of rodney king catching their hand in the cookie jar or their toilet plunger somewhere besides a toilet. – by /sm

cell phone ban at health club dressing room(11:35am est wed mar 26 2003)many health clubs are considering banning cell phones from dressing room, because of the chance of the cell phone camera taking pictures of naked men/women in the dressing room and posting it on the internet without the permission. – by phone photo low rez

no concert photos?(11:44am est wed mar 26 2003)you're not allowed to take photos at concerts?that's odd.. every concert i've gone to i've taken 2+ rolls of film at w/ a nikon slr… no problem… – by :-)

yea(11:50am est wed mar 26 2003)….life is like a box of mixed nuts, u never know what ur gonna get. – by fgump

no concert photos?(11:53am est wed mar 26 2003)you obviously don't go to see britney spears. i'm not sure why her fans is the ones most affected by this but i'm sure they will also force cd-buyers to sign a contract that prohibits them from using their phones to record any kind of sample to use as a ringtone. a sure sign that the artist has nothing to do with her own career, everything is run by corporate marketeers trying to cram money in every possible way. – by pacc

pacc(11:55am est wed mar 26 2003)you got me there.never been to see mme. spears in my life. – by :-)

yeah, but only women can have it. that's the real reason that “vibrate” is in the phone. why else do you think nobody has their phone on “vibrate” at the theater? – by /sm

this is nothing(2:21pm est wed mar 26 2003)

wait until your eye can be replaced with a camera. – by eta hinin

re: alexbell(3:56pm est wed mar 26 2003)with the high the cost of cell phone and other extra charges for the phone sex services, you are better get real sex from a prostitute. it is cheaper. :0 – by wide mouth mason

right…(5:09pm est wed mar 26 2003)there have been incidents in hong kong as well that some people used cameraphones for some unacceptable purposes and got caught.

that's why i always say a phone is a phone and a camera is a camera no matter what they're what they're, they can't integrate. :) – by lyf

also…(5:11pm est wed mar 26 2003)i don't think cameraphones or such things are much useful, they're made by the phone and network companies to squeeze more from our pockets, that's all it's about, nothing more. x) – by lyf

wow(7:29pm est wed mar 26 2003)i never thought of all these grerat ideas for a camera/phone, i need to go out and get one, right away….. – by upskirt good

wow indeed!(10:54pm est wed mar 26 2003)upskirt shots to take home after a day's work around the office towers and malls downtown…i think i just discovered a new hobby…thanks pda geek for turning me onto this. – by gimme upskirts

what's the big deal?(3:38am est thu mar 27 2003)why such a fuzz? don't you know what a nude man or woman looks like and do you think others don't know that you have “private” parts or wear “interesting” underwear and have a clear idea what they look like? what's the big deal with upskirt, shower or dressing room pictures? be proud of yourself and your body if someone finds it interesting enough to take a picture and show it :-) – by eldkatten

it's only a matter of time..(3:56pm est thu mar 27 2003)before someone finds the wires leading to the speaker making the noise, and disconnect it.. – by frenchy

world nude — new aol gallery coming(4:55pm est thu mar 27 2003)give it up peeps. every single person on the planet will soon be shown somewhere on the net in a compromising position. might as well beat the rush and head to the gym. soon it will be a badge of honor — “someone got that pic of me way back in 2003. you haven't been upskirted/gyme'd till now?” – by cheese!

hey eldkatten,(1:19am est tue oct 28 2003)hey elda, if you are a female, why don't you show me what you're so proud of (naked picture of yourself).. only if you're hot, that is :p – by maverick